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May 12th, 2003
Covalent mechanochemistry demonstrated
Abstract:
A team in Japan used an atomic force microscope to remove an atom of silicon from a surface and put it back. This involved breaking and then re-forming covalent bonds. The technique did not use electricity--just mechanical force. And the fact that they manipulated a single atom with a single "finger" flatly contradicts at least two of Smalley's key criticisms of mechanochemistry.